Academic Case Study: Application of BIM Tools and Technology to Improve Operation and Maintenance Management in a Sports Facility

Sports facilities combine architectural complexity with intense operational demands. However, their management often relies on manual processes and dispersed information, making preventive maintenance inefficient and reactive.
The studied sports center lacked structured asset data, standardized documentation, and a digital connection between the design model and facility management systems.
The goal was to demonstrate how BIM methodologies and YouBIM could bridge this gap, enabling a structured, visual, and data-driven approach to O&M.

The research applied a BIM 7D workflow, integrating multiple tools and information models to link the digital design environment with real facility operations:

Model Standardization and Coordination: Revit models were optimized, federated, and cleaned to ensure consistent geometry and manageable size.

COBie Framework: All relevant asset data (equipment, systems, maintenance parameters) were structured following COBie standards to serve as a database for YouBIM.

Integration with YouBIM: The consolidated information was imported into YouBIM, transforming the model into a navigable digital twin where users could locate assets, access technical documents, and generate maintenance tasks.

Testing and Validation: The YouBIM environment was used to simulate preventive maintenance workflows, evaluate accessibility of asset data, and measure improvements in operational efficiency.

Key results included:

Centralized Information: All documentation and asset data are now integrated in one environment, accessible through the 3D model.

Enhanced Preventive Maintenance: Digital workflows reduce downtime and improve response capacity.

Standardization and Traceability: Unified parameters and codes ensure data reliability across systems.

Operational Efficiency: Maintenance teams can visualize systems, plan interventions, and record actions directly from the model.

Replicable Methodology: The study establishes a framework that can be adapted to other public or educational sports facilities.

This academic project demonstrates how the integration of BIM, COBie, and YouBIM transforms sports facilities into intelligent, data-driven environments – bridging design and operation to achieve more efficient, transparent, and sustainable maintenance management.